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Study Finds Bed Bugs Capable of Transmitting Chagas Disease

Bed bugs are one of the most
hated and difficult to control pests in the United States, but
until recently, it was thought that they were merely a nuisance,
incapable of transmitting any diseases to humans. However,
according to a
new study from the University of Pennsylvania, it might be
possible for bed bugs to serve as vectors for Chagas disease, a
potentially fatal illness affecting millions in Central and South
America, along with 300,000 in the U.S.

Chagas disease is typically spread by the kissing
bug, a close cousin of the bed bug. They transmit Chagas
disease through a parasite that lives in their fecal matter.
Kissing bugs defecate while they feed on humans, allowing the
parasite to enter through the bite wound. Chagas disease often
shows no symptoms until many years after infection, but can
eventually lead to fatal heart disease.

The bed bug researchers conducted experiments in which bed bugs
infected with the Chagas disease parasite fed off un-infected mice,
and un-infected bed bugs fed off of infected mice. In both cases,
transmission of the parasite occurred to the initially un-infected
subjects. Bed bugs also defecate while they feed, and researchers
found that mice were able to pick up the parasite when small open
wounds came in to contact with infected bed bug feces.

This research sounds alarming, but more research is necessary to
find out whether bed bugs in the U.S. are already infected with the
parasite and how likely infection is to occur between bed bugs and
humans outside of the laboratory environment. For now, the best
course of action is to take steps to
prevent contact with bed bugs, especially while
traveling.

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